Navigating the Road to Stroke Recovery

Wednesday, March 8, 2017 22:49

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People are affected by stroke in different ways. Several stroke survivors are able to continue improving over a period of time, usually over some years. Recovering from stroke involves changing the physical, emotional and social aspects of life to prevent further strokes and facilitating recovery in the long-run. Feeling sad, depressed, frustrated or angry after stroke is normal. You may be anxious about your work, relationships and finances. The fatigue that is associated with stroke can worsen the situation.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation enables you to get your life back on track and live as independently as possible. It requires you to be actively involved in ensuring that the quality of your life improves. This may mean developing new skills as well as reacquainting yourself with old ones. You may need to adapt to conditions that occur after a stroke or new limitations that may arise. It can also mean establishing a new supportive system post-stroke. A fulfilling life can continue after stroke with proper rehabilitation and care.

Returning to Normal Life

A critical aspect of recovery is returning to normal life after you leave the hospital. Learn to handle any new challenges that follow a stroke. It is important to be aware of the assistance and rehabilitation services that are available for survivors.

Conditions after stroke include anxiety, fear and lack of certainty regarding life after surviving a stroke. There are various treatment solutions for managing these types of conditions. After a stroke, there are lifestyle changes that you can make and these range from weight management to becoming more physically active.

Care after Stroke

There are various things that caregivers need to be aware of after an elderly person has a stroke. Find out the medication that is prescribed as well as the side effects. Ask about any modifications that may need to be made in a home or facility to meet the needs of a stroke survivor. Learn as much as you can about what happens after stroke, recovery from stroke and rehabilitation.

Reducing the Risk of Stroke

People who have had a stroke are generally at a higher risk of another stroke if recommendations regarding treatment are not adhered to. Ensure that the stroke survivor consumes a healthy diet, takes medication, exercise regularly and visits a physician as often as required to prevent another stroke.

Factors that affect Recovery

Recovery is influenced by a variety of factors including the part of the brain where the stroke happened, how extensive the affected part of the brain is, the individual’s level of motivation, support from caregivers, quality of rehabilitation services and the health condition of the survivor prior to the stroke. Avoid making general comparisons between patients because every stroke is unique.

Conclusion

Rapid recovery may occur within a few months following the stroke but there are some survivors who continue recovering after a few years. Caregivers can seek assistance from physical and occupational therapists to deal with concerns such as imbalance that cause falls, dizziness, limited mobility, inability to carry out recreational activities and an increasing need for assistance with regular activities.

The amount of rehabilitation that a person receives will depend on their progress and improvement. Keep track of attitude and behavioral changes. Depression is a common occurrence post-stroke and can adversely affect recovery. Consult a medical profession and identify ways to keep seniors motivated.